River Arts is showing the artwork of Kate Buehner in a solo show, “Activation of Shapes, Color and Design,” from Aug. 28 through Sept. 27 in the River Room. A meet-the-artist opening reception is from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at the gallery.

A piece by artist Kate Buehner, a Gardiner resident whose solo exhibition is debuting at River Arts in Damariscotta. (Courtesy of Kate Buehner)

Buehner received her BFA from the University of New Mexico and went on to study painting and drawing at the New York Studio School. She later earned a master’s degree in art therapy from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and an master of social work degree from Hunter College in New York City. For 10 years, Buehner worked as an art therapist in New York and has since served as a clinician in both outpatient and inpatient settings in Maine.

Throughout her career in mental health, Buehner has maintained a dedicated art-making practice. Now retired, she lives in Gardiner, where she maintains a studio in the attached barn of her home.

“Nine months ago, I was selected via a lottery to rent gallery space here at River Arts. I was surprised!,” Buehner said in a prepared release. “It could have taken several years to be pulled from the communal pot of names. I thought, ‘I have a year to accomplish this, that’s plenty of time.’ The months flew by.

“Having a goal focused me, gave me structure and purpose. Knowing that I had a show at the end of the summer both challenged and scared me. My objective was to present a cohesive body of work. I believe I have accomplished this, and I have grown artistically because of it. The goal pushed me harder than I thought I could be pushed. Painting both excites and frustrates me. I get lost in the process, often baffled by what I have created and puzzled as to how to move forward. Design, composition, color and lively mark-making energize me. I paint intuitively; ideas develop as I experiment on the canvas by layering color, drawing, scribbling and creating shapes.”

River Arts is a nonprofit gallery located at 36 Elm St. in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call the gallery at 563-6868, visit riverartsme.org or email info@riverartsme.org.